I Think I Can Manage is a weekly column by retailer Steven Bates, who managers Bookery Fantasy, a million dollar retail operation in Fairborn, Ohio. This week, Bates draws our attention to a new campaign for a cause championed by Christopher Reeve, and the fictional character he played--Superman:
Christopher Reeve passed away Sunday, October 10, 2005. He was 52. Reeve is best known, of course, for his landmark portrayal of the Man of Steel in a series of four motion pictures, indelibly casting his image in the minds of fans worldwide as the one, true Superman. For the nine years prior to his death, Reeve had become a symbol of superhuman effort in the face of adversity. Following an accident where the actor was thrown from a horse, breaking his neck, Reeve was left a quadriplegic. As the world well knows, he never stopped fighting, enduring numerous surgeries, infinite hours of rehabilitation, and overcoming both mental and physical fatigue in his pursuit of a cure or correction for his paralysis. His efforts, both as a patient and advocate for spinal cord injury research, were not only inspiring; they were historical.
Like millions of fans around the world, I'll always remember Christopher Reeve as Superman. He changed the way people looked at super-heroes, made us all believe that a man -- and movies about comic book characters -- could fly. His humor, his dignity, his humanity, in a role that could've been a complete mockery, brought the hero to life for all generations of Superman fans.
But I will also remember Christopher Reeve the man. Paralyzed from the neck down, struggling to breath, his body wasting away, Reeve's indomitable spirit was almost super-human, his will to live a testament to the human spirit. His legacy, a foundation committed to spinal cord injury and paralysis research, carries on in that same spirit today.
The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF) is committed to funding research that develops treatments and cures for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders. The Foundation also vigorously works to improve the quality of life for people living with disabilities through its grants program, paralysis resource center and advocacy efforts. The CRPF has awarded over $53 million in research grants to the world's best neuroscientists. CRPF grants are catalytic. They support new initiatives, take smart risks, and make sure research dollars are spent to do the most good. In addition, through their Quality of Life Grants program, CRPF has granted over 700 Quality of Life grants for a grand total of $6.5 million to nonprofit organizations that help improve the daily lives of people living with paralysis, particularly spinal cord injuries. Click here to order your Superman Tags today.
Be a hero. Wear the tags.
